Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from James 3:1-12.

 

“¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  ² For we all stumble in many ways.  If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. 

 

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue;  it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?  Nor can salt water produce fresh.”  James 3:1-12.

 

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First, let us consider the damage that can be done by the tongue.  “… See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  Verses 5 and 6.  “… it is a restless evil andfull of deadly poison … and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;”  Verses 8 and 9.

                                                           

Consider how many deeds of the flesh are performed by the tongue.  “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.  (Those deeds of the flesh performed by the tongue include, but are not limited to, those deeds of the flesh highlighted above in bold italic font.  We will also cover more in the following Proverbs.)

But, there is hope!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:22-26.

Consider how many Proverbs speak of the tongue and contrast between the good and the bad that can be done by the tongue. 

“³ From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
³ The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”  Proverbs 12:2-3.

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.”  Proverbs 14:3.

“A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.”  Proverbs 14:5.

“A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.”  Proverbs 14:25.         

“¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.”  Proverbs 15:1-2.

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.”  Proverbs 15:4.

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.”  Proverbs 15:7.

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”  Proverbs 15:18. 

“A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!”  Proverbs 15:23.

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28.

“Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.”  Proverbs 16:13.

“²³ The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:23-24.         

“A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.”  Proverbs 16:28.

“Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.”  Proverbs 17:1.

“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.”  Proverbs 17:10.

“He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.”  Proverbs 17:20.      

“²⁷ He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”  Proverbs 17:27-28.

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”  Proverbs 18:4.

“⁶ A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.”  Proverbs 18:6-7.

“ He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.”  Proverbs 18:13.         

“With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.”  Proverbs 18:20.

“A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.”  Proverbs 19:9.

“¹⁹ He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
²⁰ He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.”  Proverbs 20:19-20.

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.”  Proverbs 21:23. 

“¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12.

“A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.”  Proverbs 26:28.

“¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.
¹⁵ A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;”  Proverbs 27:14-15.

“A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.”  Proverbs 29:5.         

“Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.”  Proverbs 29:8.

“A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.”  Proverbs 29:11.

“An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.”  Proverbs 29:22.

“⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”  Proverbs 31:8-9.   

In conclusion, we will end with Proverbs 31:26.  Although this verse is within the chapter that describes an “Excellent Wife”, it summarizes well how we all should use our tongue. 

“She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  Proverbs 31:26.